ARTOIS — A crash on a stretch of Glenn County roadway officials said has been especially deadly claimed another life Thursday afternoon.

The accident, involving a small sedan and a milk transport tanker, occurred at 1:17 p.m. on Highway 99W, between County roads 25 and 27.

California Highway Patrol investigators said a woman identified as Sarah Dianne Bayles, 34, of Capay, was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was reportedly driving south on Highway 99 and had just passed over the Tehama Colusa Canal, when her 1999 Chevrolet Prizm crossed over a double-yellow line.

The CHP said she was going about 55 mph as the front end of her vehicle angled toward a tanker truck traveling north on Highway 99 at 45 mph.

Her vehicle struck a 75-gallon saddle fuel tank on the truck, which was ripped from the chassis and exploded.

The impact caused Bayles” vehicle to rotate counterclockwise and come to rest a few feet off the roadway just north of the canal.

The tanker driver, Orland resident Gilbert Chavez, 43, told investigators he felt a bump when he went over the canal, but didn”t realize there was a problem until he looked in his mirror and saw flames shooting from the rear portion of the cab.

He slowed the vehicle and jumped out as it went out of control. The tanker rolled several more yards and veered off the west side of the roadway.

Chavez drives for Ruan Transport Corporation, and was only about a mile from the company headquarters when the crash occurred.

Upon arrival, firefighters from Orland and Artois said the cab and engine compartment of the truck was engulfed in flames.

Emergency crews said Bayles was deceased when they arrived at her vehicle, the front end of which was shredded in the crash. The doors of the car had to be cut off to get her out.

It”s believed the victim was wearing a seat belt. A child”s safety seat was found in the vehicle, but officials didn”t say Thursday if she has any children.

Highway 99W was closed between County roads 25 and 27 for more than three hours, as road crews spread absorbent over several fluid spills and picked up wreckage spread over a 100 yard stretch of roadway.

The crash occurred in front of a home and business where Chris Shelby and his sister, Terra Driscoll, were working Thursday afternoon.

Shelby said he ran toward the burning truck with a fire extinguisher, but the flames were too intense to get near it. He said he wound up keeping a fire in check that was spreading trough grass and dry brush near the highway.

Shelby and Driscoll said at first they didn”t know a second vehicle had been involved in the incident, and believed the tanker driver didn”t know either.

Chavez was visibly upset when CHP officers walked him back to the point of impact, a few feet from where the Chevrolet came to rest.

Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones said an autopsy has been ordered to determine Bayles” cause of death.

The CHP said they investigated another fatal crash on the same stretch of 99 last month.